The real faces of Africa don’t look like a dejected World Vision commercial (Photos)

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Some charities like to fuck with your ignorance and sympathy. Hell, that’s how some make their money.

Kids in Africa. Go Google that right now. You get your stereotypical, late-night World Vision commercial notion of kids in Africa. Take a look at the photos that pop up. More of the same hackneyed bullshit. Distended bellies. Hollow, innocent faces. Some with tears streaking down their faces. Sunken ribcages. Rags of clothing dangling from their bodies.

Stop with the sympathy cards. Just stop it. Yes, goddammit, there’s insurmountable suffering for many kids in parts of Africa. But this is a huge continent of 54 individual countries. Stop with the all-encompassing wet blanket of partial truths. What you don’t see is the sheer happiness in these kids. There’s so much pride, resilience, and contentment in the kids. That part doesn’t sign cheques, though. There are a lot of problems in Africa; let’s not simplify. But there’s more beauty. For many children that may only own the shirt on their back and a ragged soccer ball, there’s an immense joy in the simple things in life. Family. Sports. School (for some). Fishing. And just being kids.

I’ve been to both East and West Africa on numerous occasions, and the joy in these kids is unparalleled. I will let the photos tell that story.